Start with what the Honda OSM is: a 2-door roadster, built from 2008, in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids. What it meant takes a little longer. The shape is credited to Andreas Sittel.
The story
The Honda OSM (Open Study Model) was a concept car that was revealed at the 2008 London Motor Show. The concept vehicle was designed by Honda's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany.
The lightweight roadster design was to showcase that Honda has the capability of producing a low-emissions car that is sporty and fun to drive. Honda has announced that it has no plan for the car to be released as a production model, despite being speculated by car enthusiasts as a preview for a potential replacement of the aging Honda S2000 convertible. It was also speculated that the similar size and design language hinted at a convertible version of the Honda CR-Z, which was then yet to be released.
Under the skin
The record carries the shape — a 2-door roadster. The engine, output and weight have not yet reached the open record, and MotorJury does not guess at them.
Its place in the line
The cars a buyer would have weighed it against include the Nissan 370Z, the Tesla Roadster, the Nissan GT-R. Nearby in the Honda catalogue sit the Honda Envix and the Honda Crider.